When I was born, the doctors diagnosed me with a rare birth defect called CHILD Syndrome. CHILD Syndrome is a very rare disease that occurs mostly in females. Each letter of CHILDS is an acronym for Congenital Hemidysplasia with Ichthyosis and Limb Defects Syndrome.
Congenital means I was born with the disease. Hemidysplasia means it only affects half of my body. Ichthyosis means skin disorder (I have struggled with painful rashes since birth). Limb Defects as it affects my left arm and left leg. My entire left side is underdeveloped leaving my left arm very short which tapers down to one digit. My left leg was amputated when I was an infant.
Although I have this disability, it does not limit me in any way. I played on an undefeated soccer team with my friends in school. When the rash didn't prevent me from wearing my prosthesis, I played on a basketball team and enjoyed many other activities such as rollerblading. At times, I couldn't wear my prosthetic, So I hopped (that's where my nick name came from because my dad calls me hopper) I love to climb trees, jump on a trampoline, swim and many more activities. I can pretty much do just about everything your average eleven year old would do.
"If your ever in a position where you don't know what to say to someone,
a simple smile will do."
- Stephanie Jallen
